The World's Longest Cooperative Company Name from Teluk Intan

There are many interesting things that make us proud and put the state of Perak on the world map. This time, we will introduce readers to a cooperative that holds the award for the world's longest abbreviated name.

This record has also been immortalized in the Guinness Book of World Records. It is a unique fact that makes us smile with pride.

The record for the longest abbreviated name is held by a cooperative company from Teluk Intan. The company's name is Syarikat Orang-Orang Melayu Kerajaan Hilir Perak Bekerja Sama-Sama Kerana Jimat Cermat Simpanan Dan Pinjaman Wang Dengan Tanggungan Berhad, or abbreviated as S.O.M.K.H.P.S.K.J.C.S.S.D.P.W.D.T.B.

Quite long, isn't it? Due to the uniqueness of its name, it has been recognized as the company with the longest abbreviated name in the world—found nowhere else but in the state of Perak.

The history of this company began in 1923, when the Hilir Perak district cooperative officer at the time, Mr. Tahir bin Setia Raja, took the initiative to establish the Syarikat Pekerja-Pekerja Kerajaan Hilir Perak (Hilir Perak Government Workers Company).

This effort received the support of the Hilir Perak District Officer at the time, Mr. M.K. Bain. The District Officer then served as the President (ex Officio) of the company.

The Vice President of the company was the Senior Assistant District Officer. These officers were assisted by Committee Members elected during the annual general meeting.

At the initial stage of the establishment of the Hilir Perak Government Workers Company in 1924, the company only had 150 members with an initial capital of just a few thousand ringgit, which was sourced from membership fees.

According to the company's own records, the total membership fees collected from members up to 1939 amounted to RM55,645.29 since its inception.

Then in 1924, the company committee decided to change the cooperative's name from Syarikat Pekerja-Pekerja Kerajaan Hilir Perak to Syarikat Orang-Orang Melayu Kerajaan Hilir Perak Bekerja Sama-Sama Kerana Jimat Cermat Simpanan Dan Pinjaman Wang Dengan Tanggungan Berhad, or the short name S.O.M.K.H.P.S.K.J.C.S.S.D.P.W.D.T.B., which was simultaneously recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest abbreviated name.

However, today, the cooperative with the longest name is better known simply as SKOMK among members and the public, and its long name is no longer widely used.

This cooperative has achieved various successes. Its activities include Ar-Rahnu services, a supermarket, a COOP shop, a Myfarm shop, a multipurpose hall, a consumer goods distribution center, providing business spaces for entrepreneurs, renting out office spaces, and most recently, planning a housing project in collaboration with UPSI.

The cooperative also owns a large complex known as the SKOMK Complex in the heart of Teluk Intan. To date, the cooperative has 6,000 registered members.